Letter from Karl Abraham to Sigmund Freud, December 4, 1921

404A

Berlin-Grünewald
4 December 1921

Dear Professor,

This is the first letter I have written to you directly since our meeting. Our circular letters fulfil so completely the purpose of giving new information and asking questions that only occasionally are a few private things left over.

You surely remember the talk we had on that rainy day on the way to Schierke. To my delight I can tell you today that I have recently had a more favourable impression of Sachs. Offences like those that attracted our attention on the way, and all the other changes that I mentioned at the time, are scarcely evident now. On the contrary, I found that on certain occasions a good, firm sense of tact appears. I am beginning to hope that the worries we had are thus becoming without substance; but naturally we still have to wait for the near future. I shall report to you again in a short time. I know that this news will please you, and so I did not want to keep it from you any longer.

Now for something else. Recently my wife and I spent an evening in Ernst's charming home in the Regentenstrasse. On this occasion I was again convinced of the splendid progress of your little grandson. I cannot remember having seen, in a child of this age, such a calmly observant expression, as though he were scanning all about him systematically (heritage from the grandfather?).

Last Sunday we had Oliver with us; before this he had not come out of his work at all. He is always particularly kind to our children; our little boy is his special friend and feels very honoured by the project of a mutual exchange of bicycle handlebars.

I do not expect any answer to this letter, dear Professor. If you want to acknowledge that you have received it, you can do that in the next circular letter.

With cordial greetings to you and yours, also from my wife.

Yours,